Chemical fire-extinguisher.



W. S. TIFFANY. OHEMIOAL PIRE EXTINGUISHEB.

LPPLIUTIOH FILED IAEO, 1007. EEIEWBD IAB. 15, 1010.v

974,208. Patented NOV. l, 1910.v

8 BHEBTHHE'BT 1.

w. is. TIFFANY. UHEHIOAL FIRE EXTINGUIBHBB.

I I LPPLIQATIOI FILED 113.8, 1907. BBIEWED IAR. 15, 191). 974,208.

Y Patented Nov.` 1, 1 910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. S. TIFFANY.

CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHBB'.

APPLIOATIQN FILED 11,111.8. 1901. nnnnwnn un. 15, 1910.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

3 SHEBTS-BEEBT 3.

WILLIAM S. TIFFANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CHEMICAL FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Application led March 8, 1907, Serial No. 361,335. Renewed March 15, 1910. Serial No. 549,440.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. TIFFANY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useul Improvements in Chemical Fire-Extinguishers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to chemical fire extinguishers of the type wherein a large volume of carbonio acid gas is generated within a cylinder containing an alkaline solution by the sudden introduction thereto of an acid, the resultant gas being directed upon the fire by means of a suitable hose nozzle carried by the cylinder.

The invention has to do with the particular forms of extin isher in which the acid charge is containe in a sealed vial which is broken to liberate the same by a plunger operated from without by a blow, or a vial with a removable seal released by the retraction of the plunger.

The objects of the invention are to secure a perfect sealing of the contents at the point where the plunger reciprocates; to provide against accidental rupture of the seal; to prevent snow, ice, dirt and other foreign substances from interfering with the operation of the plunger; to insure the complete mixture of the acid and alkali; to provide for the interchangeability of vials; and other advantages.

The invention, as hereinafter more fully described and as particularly set out in the accompanying claims, will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view of an extinguisher embodying my invention, a portion being shown in elevation; Fig. 2 is a view in elevation with certain parts broken away to show a modification; Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views of further modifications; Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail views of modified forms of plunger and diaphragm oonnection: Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are views of two forms of vial adapted for use with the extinguisher: and Fig. 12 is a further modi- 1fgication of plunger and diaphragm conneclon.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the extinguisher comprises the usual cylinder or tank a provided with a hose connection b, a flexible hose c terminating in the usual nozzle and equip ed with a strainer d. Secured to the outer slde of the cylinder is the usual handle e while the upper domed end is provided with an opening closed by the wheel cap f having screw-threaded engagement with a collar g fitted within the opening and permanently secured to the cylinder. The lower part of this collar has an inwardly extending flange h, and upon this rests the outwardly extending flange z' of the cage j, within which the sealed vial c rests.

A flexible elastic diaphragm or gasket Z occupies a position above the cage and collar, its outer periphery being clamped between the collar and the cap. The plunger m is mounted for lon itudinal reciprocating movement in a c'entra opening in the cap f and at its lower end terminates in an enlargement forming a flat head bearing upon the gasket.

A liquid and gas tight connection between the bolt and gasket is important, and may be formed by interiorly threading the lower end of the bolt and seating therein a broad headed screw n as shown in Fig. 6, the diaphragm Z being clamped between the head of said screw and the flat head of the plunger; or the lowerl end of the plunger may carry a threaded extension passing through the diaphragm into a suitable clamping nut as shown in Fig. 7. The same object may be attained by inserting the plunger from below through the gasket so as t0 bear upon the lower side thereof with its iiat head, a jam nut 0 being threaded over said bolt and clamping the diaphragm against the plunger head, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8; or the jam nut may be omitted, as shown in Fig. 5, the tension of the spring and the gas pressure from within holding the head firmly against the diaphragm or against a washer Z bearing on said diaphragm. Obviously other modifications ofthis method of connection will suggest themselves in view of the examples given.

About the plunger is arranged a coiled spring 72 or equivalent device tending to hold the same normally at the upper limit of its movement. The plunger may be equipped at its outer end with a simple knob q or, preferably, with an inverted thimble 1' extending downwardly to inclose the spring and in telescopic relation to an upwardly extending Bange s, formed on top of the cap f, to prevent the entrance of snow, ice, dirt or the like which would interfere with the working of the spring and plunger.

To prevent turning of the plunger and a t consequentv straining upon the diaphragm in threading on the knob g or thereafter, the plunger is preferably made angular in crossv section so as to resist any twisting applied to said knob. A round plunger can be used and this danger avoided by mounting the knob loosely upon the end and securing the same thereto by a pin t entering an annular groove I have also found itadvantageous, even where the square plunger be employed with a thimble as shown in Fig. l, to secure said thimble in the same manner by a pin engaging an annular groove in the extremity of such plunger, or by a wire t seated in grooves in the plunger and knob as shown in Fig. 5.

While the construction so far described is adapted for use in connection with the ordinary form of cage and vial, I have found of particular advantage a vial formed substantially as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The vial is provided with the usual transverse corrugations e having thin walls to facilitate breaking and also with longitudinal and transverse grooves w and w extending throughout the length thereof. Upon the cage is provided an inwardly extending lug which is accommodated by the longitudinal groove w when the vial is inserted in the cage, a partial turning of the vial bringing the groove fw out of line with the lug a: which then enters the transverse groove w. The object of such construction is that the lug shall, by its engagement with the walls of the transverse corrugations, hold the unbroken portion of the vial up from the bottom of the inverted tank to facilitate the rapid and complete mingling of the chemcals. By extending the groove w throughout the length of the vial, the same vial can be employed either side up in extinguishers, as shown in Fig. 1, which are intended to be inverted when used, or in those employing a Siphon discharge b without inversion in use as shown in Fig. 2. To facilitate interchangeability, a protuberance y may be provided at one end of the vial to match the sealed neck 2 at the other, as shown in Fig. l. The cage j has an open bottom to receive the protuberance or sealed neck of the vial, the plunger impinging upon the flat bottom or protuberanoe in one case and upon the neck in the other.

Another form of vial vwhich I have found advantageous is that shown in Fig. 4 in which the same is laced in an inverted position in the cage y passing the lug by way of the groove Iw into the transverse corrugation o. Normally the vial is supporte by the foot j of the cage j but when preure is exerted from without to break the vial the lower portion breaks off and drops, while the upper portion is held within the cage by the lug The lug .fr may form an integral part of the cage j as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 or it may be secured to a spring member and movably mounted within the cage as shown in Fig. 11. The latter movement obviates the necessity of a longitudinal groove w.

In lieu of the form of plunger shown in Figs. 5, 6 7, and 8, operating under the influence of a spring p the plunger m shown in Fig. 4 may be employed which is screwthreaded into the cap f and moved inward and outward by a rotary motion, the operation bein otherwise the same as that described with reference to the spring pressed plunger.

The structures thus far described in detail for use in extinguishers in which the acid vial is broken by the plunger under pressure exerted from without are also adapted by appropriate modifications to extinguishers in which the acid vial has a removable seal arranged to be released and the acid discharged into the alkali without breaking the vial. As shown in Fig. 3 the inner end of the plunger m is provided with an inner head n similar to the broad-.headed screw 'n as used in Fig. 6 except that it is provided in its face with a recess to receive a cork, rubber, or other suitable gasket The plunger in this case is pressed downwardly by a coiled spring p-, arranged between the cap f and the diaphragm Z, the open neck z of the vial le resting within the recess and sealed by the gasket n2. The vial in this case rests at its lower end wit-hin a shallow cup j2 swinging upon the trunuions j supported by the opposite walls of the cage In operation, when it is desired to use the extinguisher, the plunger m is pulled upward, the recessed head n thus being withdrawn from and releasing the neck of the vial k, which then overturns by gravity, emptying its contents into the alkaline liquid within the lower portion of the cylinder.

A further modification of the plunger and diaphragm connection is shown in Fig. 12 in which the plun er lml is provided with an oval or rounded ead m2. Over the plunger is placed a threaded sleeve o', and the head 'm2 is inclosed in a hood 02 threaded on the sleeve and securely gripping the diaphragm Z between the hood and sleeve. In this way a swivel connection is provided between the plunger and hood which latter constitutes in effect a swivel head for the plunger and as such bears upon the inner face of the diaphragm to effect a sealing of the joint between the diaphragm and plunger in the same manner as do the nut, broad headed screw, and washer of Figs. 7, 6 and 5 respectively.

Having thus fully described the invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. In a iire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a vial supported therein, and a cap closing the cylinder, of a flexible diaphragm arranged between the cap and cyhnderz and a plunger mounted in the cap and pro]ecting to the inner side of the diaphragm and in line with the surface of the vial, the interspace between the plunger and vial being unoccupied by the diaphragm.

2. In a fire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a frangible vial supported therein, and a cap closing the cylinder, of a Hexible diaphragm arranged between the cap and cylinder, and a plunger mounted in the cap, the plunger provided with an enf larged head on the inner side of the diaphragm between the diaphragm and vial and in line with the surface of the vial.

3. In a re extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a frangible vial supported therein, and a cap closing the cylinder, of a flexible diaphragm arranged between the cap and cyllnder, and a plunger mounted in the cap, the plun er provided with an enlarged head on te inner side of the diaphragm between the diaphragm and vial and in line with the surface of the vial, and means clamping the diaphragm tightly against the lunger head.

4.. In a il'ire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a frangible vial supported therein, and a cap closing the cyliner, of a flexible diaphragm arranged between the ca and cylinder, and a plunger mounted in t e cap and having an angular cross-section, a knob on the outer end of the lunger, the plunger provided with an ena rged head on the inner side of the diaphragm between the diaphragm and vial and 1n line with the surface of the vial, and means clamping the diaphragm tightly against the plunger head.

5. In a fire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a frangible vial supported therein, and a cap closing the cylinder, of a flexible diaphragm arranged between the cap and cylinder, and a plunger mounted in the cap, the lunger provided with an enlarged rotatable head on the inner side of the diaphragm between the diaphragm and vial an in line with the surface of the vial., and means clamping the diaphragm tightly against the plunger head.

6. In a fire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a vial su ported therein, and a cap closing the cylin er, of a plunger mounted in the ca a flexible dia hragm having its edges tightly clamped tween the cap and cylinder, the plunger provided with a head between the diaphragm and vial, means clamping the central portion of the diaphra against the plunger head, the outer en of the plunger provided with a peripheral groove, and a knob mounted on the plunger end in engagement with the groove.

7. In a fire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a frangible vial supported therein,l and a cap closing the cylinder, of a flexible diaphragm having its edges tightly clamped between the cap and cylinder, a plunger mounted in the cap and having an angular cross section, the inner end of the plunger provided with a head tightly se- `cured to the central portion of the diaphragm between the diaphragm and vial, the outer end of the plunger provided with a peripheral groove, and a knob mounted thereon in engagement with the groove.

8. In a fire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a frangible vial supported therein, and a cap closing the cylinder, of a plunger mounted in the cap and having an angular cross section, a flexible diaphragm having its edges tightly clamped between the cap and cylinder, the inner end of the plunger provided with a head tightly clamped to the central portion of the diaphragm between the diaphragm and vial, the outer end of the plunger having a peripheral groove, a knob mounted thereon,

and a pin securing the knob in engagement with the groove.

9. In a fire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a vial supported therein, and a cap closing the cylinder, of a plunger mounted in the cap, a flexible diaphragm arranged between the cap and cylinder and bearing against the inner end of the plunger, and a thimble inverted over the outer end of the plunger and secured thereto to form a knob.

10. In a fire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a vial supported therein, and a cap closing the cylinder, of a plunger mounted in the cap, a flexible diaphragm arranged between the cap and cyllnder and bearing against the inner end of the plunger, a thimble inverted over the outer end of the plunger and secured thereto to form a knob, and a flange extending outwardly from the cap in telescopic relation with the thimble.

11. In a fire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a vial supported therein, and a cap closing the cylinder, of a. plunger mounted in the cap, a flexible diaphragm arranged between the cap and cylinder, means clamping the central portion of the diaphragm to the inner end of the plunger, a thimble inverted over the outer end of the plunger and secured thereto to form a knob, a compression spring arranged about the plunger within the thimble, and a flange extending outwardly from the cap in telescopic relation with the thimble.

12. In a fire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a vial supported there- 1n, and a cap closing the cylinder, of a plunger mounted in the cap, a iiexible diaphragm arranged between the cylinder and cap, the inner end of the plunger provided with a head, metallic means on the lnside of the diaphragm clamping the central portion of the same against the plunger head, the

outer end of the plunger provided with a peripheral groove, a thimble inverted over the same to form a knob,a pin securing the thimble in engagement with the oove, a coiled spring about the plunger wlthin the thimble, and a flange extendlng outwardly from the cap aboutthe spring and in telescopic relation with the thimble.

13. In a fire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a vial sup olted therein, and a cap closing the cy inder, of a plunger mounted in the cap and having an angu ar cross section, a flexible diaphragm having its edges tightly clamped etween the cap and cylinder, the inner end of the plunger provided with an interiorly threaded head, a fiat headed screw extending from within through the central portion of the diaphragm and clampin the same tightly against the plunger hea the outer end of the plunger having a peripheral groove, a thimble inverted over the plunger and forming a knob, a in securing the thimble in engagement wit the groove, a coiled spring arran ed about the plunger within the thimb e, and a flange extending outwardly from the cap about the plunger and spring in telescopic relation with the thimble.

14. In a fire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a cap closing the cylinder, and a plunger mounted in the cap, of a cage supported within the cylinder 1n line with the plun er and having an inwardly projecting stu and a vial arranged to rest in the cage, said vial having its walls weakened near one end and provided with a longitudinal groove and a transverse groove nea its medial portion to accommodate the stu 15. In a fire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a cap closing the cylinder, and a plunger mounted in the cap, of a cage supported within the cylinder in line with the plun er and having an inwardly projecting stu near its medial portion, and a vial arranged to rest in the cage, said vial havin its Walls weakened near one end and provi ed with a longitudinal groove eXtending throughout its length and with a transverse groove at itsmedial portion for the accommodation of the stud.

16. In a lire extlnguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a cap closing the cylinder, and a plunger mounted in the cap, of a cage supported within the cylinder and having an opening in its lower end and an inwardly projecting stud near its medial portion, and a vial arranged to rest in the cage, said vial having its walls weakened near one end and provided with a longitudinal groove extending throughout its length and with a transverse groove in its medial portion for the accommodation of the stud, said vial having a sealed neck at one end and a corresponding protuberance at the other, whereby the vial may be placed in the cage with either end contiguousto the plunger.

17. In a fire extinguisher, the combination, with a cylinder, a cap closing the cylinder, a plunger mounted in the ca and having an angular cross section, a exible diaphragm having its edges tightly clamped between the cap and cylinder, the inner end of the plunger provided with a head, metallic means arranged on the inner side of the diaphragm and clamping the central portion of the same against the plun er head, the outer end of the plunger provi ed with peripheral grooves, a thimble inverted over the plunger to form a knob, a in securing the thimble in engagement wlth the grooves, a coiled spring arranged about the plunger within the thimble, and a flange extending outwardly from the cap about the spring and plunger in telescopic relation with the thimble, of a cage supported Within the cylinder in line with the plunger and having an inwardly projecting stud in its medial portion, and a vial arranged to rest in the cage, said vial having its walls weakened near one end and providedwith a longitudinal groove extending throughout its length and a transverse groove in its medial port-ion for the accommodation of the stud.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM S. TIFFANY.

Witnesses:

JAMES A. ALLEN, KATHRYN HAUGHRAN.

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